Chet Atkins, W4CGP – Guitar Legend

Chet Atkins

Music great Chet Atkins has died at home in 2001 Nashville, TN. Atkins was known worldwide for his distinctive guitarstyle, his easygoing manner, and his profound influence on the music world. Music fans may have known Atkins as “Mr. Guitar,” but to fellowAmateur Radio operators, he was W4CGP (ex-WA4CZD).

Chet AtkinsBirth name Chester Burton AtkinsBorn June 20, 1924Luttrell, Tennessee, U.S.Died June 30, 2001 (aged 77)Nashville, TennesseeGenres Country, country rock, rock, folk, rockabillyOccupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producerInstruments Guitar, violin, vocals, banjo, ukuleleYears active 1942–1996Labels RCA Victor, ColumbiaAssociated acts The Country All-Stars, Arthur Fiedler, Les Paul, Jerry Reed, Hank Snow, Merle Travis, The Carter Sisters, Mark Knopfler, Jim CarneyWebsite www.misterguitar.comChester Burton “Chet” Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as “Mr. Guitar” and “The Country Gentleman”, was an American musician, occasional vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, who along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, among others, created the country music style that came to be known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country music’s appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primarily known as a guitarist. He also played the mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and ukulele.

Atkins’s signature picking style was inspired by Merle Travis. Other major guitar influences were Django Reinhardt, George Barnes, Les Paul, and, later, Jerry Reed.[1] His distinctive picking style and musicianship brought him admirers inside and outside the country scene, both in the United States and abroad. Atkins spent most of his career at RCA Victor and produced records for the Browns, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Perry Como, Floyd Cramer, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings, and many others.

Rolling Stone credited Atkins with inventing the “popwise ‘Nashville sound’ that rescued country music from a commercial slump,” and ranked him number 21 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time.”[2] Among many other honors, Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received nine Country Music Association awards for Instrumentalist of the Year. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

A system to facilitate emergency radio communications from parking lots using lamp posts as antenna masts. Designed and built by the kids of the 721st Mechanized Contest Battalion WC2FD.COM For more info goto: http://wc2fd.com/eaps/... Read more